We will be taking two ETBD tours this May - Greece and Bulgaria. Greece tour ends on May 15, and Bulgaria starts on May 21. We would like to explore northern Greece enroute to Sofia, including visiting Meteora. Perhaps Thessaloniki as well. Not adverse to taking trains from Athens to Sofia, but prefer not to rent a car. Suggestions??
Posted by
Camarillo, California
3143 posts
Recently there was an announcement that train service between Greece and the surrounding countries has been discontinued until further notice. If that in fact continues, your options are a bus or a flight. You can also take ferry from Patras in Greece into Italy and from Italy you can catch another ferry to Croatia or Slovenia and make your way to Bulgaria that way.
Posted by
Colorado Springs
334 posts
We are also trying to find our way from Greece (to Republic of Macedonia) but recently all international trains have been cancelled from Greece - see RS news and Lonely Planet forums. Since we are only going as far as the border town in Macedonia, we're looking at other options. I have also found that it appears to not be possible to take a rental car out of Greece - at least not major car rental companies. Keep watching the travel/train news. I have also contacted some companies via Matt Barrett's site, but haven't heard back - re: buses, shared vans, etc.
Posted by
Camarillo, California
3143 posts
I just found this on another travel forum website. It's a response to an inquiry by email from Rail Europe - "We were informed of the same news; however, it has actually turned out to be the case that they have actually not yet suspended these trains. As of right now, international trains from Greece to surrounding countries are still operating, though it is possible that the national rail network of Greece will follow through and suspend these trains at some point in the near future. "